The Science-Technology-Utilization Relationship in Management

The transfer of management science into management practice is examined. Starting with the TIMS definition of management science, we delineate three fundamental classes of activity and associated personnel: (1) management science and scientists, (2) management technology and technologists, (3) management practice and managers. The inter-group communication flows which are necessary for the transfer of management science into management practice are then developed.

The examination of management science utilization problems leads us to the hypothesis that management scientists have only commented upon, rather than studied, the process of management science application. Here a structure for such a study is developed.